The Haunted Fortress of Bhangarh: Book 1

64. Respect thy name

Ishita's eyes swelled to twice their normal size watching the smirking woman in front of her, and she jumped up from her chair. "What did you do to him?" Panic was evident in her inflection. "What have you done to him, Shravani? You indeed did something. That's why he has turned into an utter fool ever since he met you. This extreme stupidity is not Rudra Sharma." She smacked herself on the forehead. "Why did this not cross my mind before? Every time he had doubts, your sweet words were enough to melt away his suspicions. Each time Siya or I tried to pinpoint the gaping holes in every story you concocted, he was the one filling those up for you." She tugged at her hair. "I was thinking he... he has become an idiot after dating you, but no." She breathed. "You are just too cunning for us." Glowering at her, she said, "What did you do to him? Tell me now."

Shravani's smile refused to disappear. "I never really liked you, Ishita. It was always you or Siya trying to show him the error of his ways, and I," she sighed, "had to spend so much energy convincing him otherwise. That did happen in a jiffy each time, yes, but it was so pointless. However, one good thing did come out of all of this. I am so adept at conjuring a lie at the drop of a hat now." She tittered. "Thank you."

Tears stung in the young girl's eyes. "Shit! You... Rudra..."

Shravani suspired. "Have some faith in me." She was met with the girl's bloodshot eyes. "I really am fond of him. He was Raghuveer, Chitralekha's best friend. My best friend. The affection might've been latent in my heart when I first met Rudra, but over time, the bond deepened. Genuinely did. I really, really love him. I know you do too. And you and I—together—will not let anyone harm him or his friends and family. Just have faith in me."

Ishita scoffed. "How can you even say that now? After everything you've done, you immensely selfish woman!"

Before Shravani could respond, Ishita rounded on her heels and stormed out of the terrace.

Rudra was coming up the stairs when he was met with the furious girl sprinting down, and though he tried to stop her and ask the reason behind her fury, Ishita gawked at her shoes while muttering incoherently about having to meet Rishabh before striding away.

Muddled at her behavior, he chose to head back to Shravani and hand over the ointment he had found after scouring the depths of the first-aid box in his room. "What happened to Ishita?" he said.

Shravani fidgeted with the half-empty tube of medicine. "She... uh... Perhaps she needs to meet Rishabh."

***

The entire day passed, but Ishita neither responded to his calls nor his messages. He had seen her clamber inside Rishabh's car minutes after she left the party midway, and though it was well past 8 pm, she hadn't returned. Out of concern, out of protectiveness—even possessiveness—, he found himself awaiting her presence outside her house. Perched on the swing she was quite fond of, he spent some time listening to music and humming the tunes.

Rishabh's car rolled towards the edifice soon enough, and he stood up, patting the dirt on his jeans he had accumulated from the garden. Ishita crawled out of the car, and her swollen eyes were proof that she had wept incessantly. Rudra's first instinct was to rush up to Rishabh and beat him black and blue, but he controlled himself when Rishabh came out of the car to hug the girl.

"Talk to Rudra, and don't cry like this," Rishabh said. "He should know you spent the entire day moping because he hurt you."

Rudra's frown lines deepened upon learning that Ishita was miffed with him. Except for the tiny altercation regarding Shravani's truthfulness, there was no major argument between them. He racked his brain to conjure the memory of something he had done to hurt her, but he was repeatedly drawing a blank.